A.J. Rettger is a grimdark fantasy author from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. His debut novel, Oathbreaker, quickly became a bestseller and stayed on the FriesenPress Bestseller’s list for two weeks. His Second book, Season of Kings – the first installment of The Raven’s War Trilogy – was critically acclaimed and was named a semi-finalist in the 2024 Self-Published Fantasy Blog Off (SPFBO). When he is not hard at work on his next book, A.J. can be found playing Dungeons and Dragons, exploring the corners of the world, or unwinding with friends and family.

Who was the first author that you remember reading?

The first author I remember reading was Robert Munsch. For the first few years of my life, I remember my mom reading Love You Forever to me and my sister almost nightly. A book that I still hold near and dear to my heart.

Who was the first indie author that you discovered?

I discovered multiple indie authors at the same time. When I published my first book, I went on Facebook and found a grimdark writing group that would allow me to promote my work and connect to readers and other authors. Once I joined this group, I was immediately introduced to some amazing indie works that kept getting recommended in the comment sections. Some of the very first indie books that I bought were from H.L. Tinsley, Sean Crow, Ryan Cahill, Jacob Sannox, Zamil Akhtar, and Christopher G Brenning.

What was your original perception of indie writing and how has that changed?

Before I was an author, I was a musician who was very much into the underground and independent scene. Going into self-publishing/indie book world, I believed it was similar to the indie/underground music scene, and I was 100% right, and to be honest, I think that is the case for most industries nowadays. The indie scene is where all the innovation happens, where all the risks are taken, and the work is often more experimental, or “niche” according to the mainstream market. But in recent years, I’ve seen a trend of indie outperforming mainstream releases, and I think part of that is because people are getting tired of the same thing over and over again. There are several examples that come to mind in various industries. In the book world, the first that comes to mind is Anthony Ryan. He started out indie, but after the success of his debut book, signed a traditional publishing deal. In music, a band like Slipknot, which consists of 9 members wearing masks and screaming into microphones, would never have worked on paper, but they are now one of the biggest bands in modern metal, and it all started with a small record label. In the gaming world, Hollow Knight, Cuphead, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 are all games from indie/small studios that outperformed many of their AAA counterparts. Even in film, the indie movie Anora won best picture in 2025! I truly believe that the indie revolution is thriving in every artistic medium.

Which authors have most contributed to or influenced your indie experience?

For anyone who has followed me since my debut novel, I’m sure they are sick of this answer, but I’ll never stop mentioning the people whose books got me into writing. The first is Andrzej Sapkowski, author of the Witcher series. Obviously, Tolkien’s works have influenced me, although I feel we differ in terms of style. Anthony Ryan, Nicholas Eames, and H.L. Tinsley are all authors whose books get the creative juices flowing, either for my own novels or for badass Dungeons & Dragons campaigns.

What are your #authorgoals?

I feel like I am asked this question a lot, and I always feel bad that my answer is very… bland. I really have no lofty #authorgoals. My only goal is to improve my craft, tell interesting stories, and hopefully entertain the people who decide to read my books. Major publishing deals, TV and movie adaptations, and other spinoffs don’t really interest me. Sure, if they happen, that’s awesome, but when I have someone reach out to me, saying how much they enjoyed my book and that they can’t wait for the story to continue, that is worth more than any monetary value.

What practices, rules or disciplines do you set yourself when it comes to writing?

There is a saying that is usually associated with dating, but I find it is equally true for writing. “If you have to force it, it’s probably shit.” When there is no inspiration, and I force myself to write, I almost always end up deleting what I’ve written. My writing method is very much dependent on the ebb and flow of my creativity. Sometimes you just have to wait for inspiration to strike and see where it takes you.

What’s the best piece of critique you’ve ever gotten?

When writing in a genre like grimdark SFF, you have to be careful because the subject matter can be so dark. One of the best pieces of advice I received was, “Does this serve any purpose other than to make the reader wince?” I think a lot of beginning grimdark authors (me included) can fall into the trap of gratuitous darkness, or darkness for the sake of darkness. If something truly terrible happens in a story, and the only reason it’s there is for shock value, is a mistake. Not only because it gives off “edgelord” vibes, but because for the people who have actually gone through similar events in real life, it’s disrespectful to their experiences. Dark subject matter is a tightrope, one that must be navigated with great care and attention to detail to ensure that it gets the respect it deserves.

You can find A.J.’s works here

This is a shortened version of A.J.’s interview. The full interview will be available to members on our soon-to-be launched Patreon page, coming January 2026.